Pat Zabriskie
In the 1970s, I began writing
in earnest. I took a writing course by correspondence. It taught me the basics
and assigned me topics to write about. As a result, within about three months I
sold my first article to a parenting magazine for $75.00.
No, that check isn’t framed
as my first freelance acceptance. I cashed it and knew my writing had value in
the marketplace. As a teacher in my
church’s education department I used my new-found skills to develop lessons and
programs. The denomination’s state office asked me to write a year’s worth of
lessons for local distribution. My work was recommended to our national
publications department and I was soon writing curriculum. I averaged from two
to six assignments a year for Sunday school quarterlies, special activities,
seasonal programming and events.
When I was director of our
church’s Christian education department, the material grew out of our
children’s needs and was grade level appropriate. The kinks were worked out in
the classroom.
Part of our activities
centered around puppets. Our teacher magazine ran five original puppet
characters I created with scripts. These scripts were made available by mail to
other Christian puppeteers. My mimeograph was busy. After a year or two, I
gathered the scripts up into two books of plays. Gospel Publishing House
published them.
All of this writing got done
while my pastor husband and I raised five children. I somehow managed to keep
up with the work of the pastorate. Wives were partners in ministry in my day.
Though I seldom spoke from the pulpit, my husband said my pulpit was the
kitchen table, where I often entertained other busy women and we cried and
prayed together.
When I sold my first article
to a teacher’s publication, I was so thrilled I ran through the house showing
each child my byline. The oldest one looked at me and said, “So?” Children keep
you humble. After all, you are Mom. Why look for any other fame?
As the kids left home one by
one, I filled my empty nest with more writing.
I worked for local newspapers
in every little burg we pastored. We presented unique summer programs so as not
to compete with the larger churches wonderful Vacation Bible schools. We taught
the Bible in a fun, non-competitive way. The locals referred to us as the
“Little Church at Hollywood
Before our last two kids
moved on, we performed for the High School Graduation Alternative Party. Along
with a fun night in a safe place that had movies, games, activities and food,
we slid our big stage onto the gym floor in front of the bleachers full of
grown up seniors. We heard some giggles and the words, “A puppet show!?”
But we wowed them with crazy
puppet antics by “teen” puppets. We used their favorite music, and plenty of
“inside” jokes. We performed a soap opera called, “General High School
Another time we spoofed the
school board. We had them in hysterics. We poked fun but were careful not to
demean or be offensive.
Writing that kind of material
was a blast.
All this has influenced my
writing. I wrote straight news features, did interviews with local
“celebrities.” Wherever we lived I wrote material--even for a writer’s Christmas
party. They were going to hire a belly-dancer, but preferred the Hat Show and a
spoof on writers.
Now, as I age (gracefully?)
I’m having fun writing the cozy mystery I started years ago. I have time.
After writing material for
puppets, children, teachers, Sunday school, short features, spoofs, and news,
this is a whole ‘nother ball game.
And I’m still learning how to
write.
